In this article I am going to talk about how to command your dog off. This dog training exercise is often viewed as being extremely difficult, especially for a novice owner. In fact the opposite is often true. It can actually be quite easy if you have a little patience and a lot of determination.
The first thing you need to do when wanting to learn how to command your dog is to make sure you are in the right frame of mind. You see, it is important that you are in control not the dog. So if you are nervous then this will not work, learn to relax. The key to learning how to command your dog is that you must remember to stay calm and in control. You must concentrate on the task at hand, not the dog. If you do this then your dog will listen to you and know that you are the leader and will respect you.
The next step is to practice the command. Try and go out with your dog, and not with another dog or person. This makes it easier to control your dog’s attention. Practice on different furniture, doorways, stairs etc. until you are comfortable. Once you are fully confident that you can command your dog’s attention with complete confidence then it’s time to move on to the actual commands themselves.
So, how to command your dog? Well, I’ll start with the most basic command, sit. All dogs know this and if you want to teach them something then the best way to start is with sitting. When asking them to sit, be firm but never scolding them. Let them know that you mean what you say and they will respect you and obey you.
Next, how to command your dog is to come. You must command your dog to come before he does anything else. If he lunges at you then scold him and pull back, then stand still until he comes to you. If he tries to jump on you then again you must stop him in his tracks. Your dog will soon learn that when you say come they must come.
Next step on how to command your dog is of course to follow orders. Your dog should follow you anywhere, including places that you do not want him to go. Dogs are naturally pack animals and will naturally look to their pack leader for guidance and approval.
Be careful when giving commands to your dog, as he will naturally try to test you. To test him, you can pretend to need something from him. For example if you are trying to get him to take a particular toy under your chin then pretend to grab it from him, or you can just give him a verbal challenge. A dog will normally respond to the challenge with interest. Should he refuse to cooperate then ignore him and return to your side, this is called a submissive posture.
If you persist in your training and you show your dog that he has control over his actions then you will be able to train him how to obey. You will also have a well trained dog that you can enjoy to please for years to come. So the next time you find yourself wondering how to command your dod ask yourself whether you are doing the best possible job of training him. If you are not then you may need to do some more lessons.
Training your dog will require time and commitment and you should expect to see results from it in due course of time, especially if you have previously trained other dogs. Patience is key when you are learning how to command your dog. The great thing is that this is not an obedience course, you do not need to be a professional to train your dog. In fact, many professional dog trainers would say that an obedience course is unnecessary as you can train your dog yourself using very simple techniques.
The dog training basics involve rewarding your dog when he performs the right action and punishing him if he behaves incorrectly. As a dog owner you are naturally inclined to want to reward your dog every time he behaves in the manner you want him to. If your dog behaves badly then you should put him in his place, either by reprimanding him or by doing something that will teach him a lesson. As long as you do not use any force you can quickly gain the upper hand in the relationship and he will in turn learn how to command your dog.
One of the most important dog training basics is to be patient. It may take weeks or even months before your dog understands what you want him to do. Remember, he is just a dog and therefore does not always behave in the same manner as people do. If you keep at it though you will get good results and it will soon become second nature to your dog. There are also dog training basics to be aware of. Some of these include never to hit or abuse your dog, never to leave him alone in the house while you are gone, never to go on a walk when your dog is not around, and always make sure your dog is given enough exercise to satisfy his needs.